New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-06
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

ErCoLLEoTIoSs OF EMINENT MES With W.,, , Stnsr
duction by the Rev. G. A. BARroL, d. d. l6mo. pp
xviii, 397. Ticknor Co.
The high estimate put upon Mr.. Whipple's work
by Dr. Bartol is justified by the admirable papers
in this posthumous volume But Dr. Bartols
praise is no more than an echo Of the Judgment
which generation Of the most accomplished crit
les Of literature and character have concurred
in pronouncins upon this acute, sympathetic and
brilliant essayist Dr. Bartol declares that MI
Whipple was "the best critic and creator of criti-
eism America has produced" and he catalogues
some Of the qualifications in which he conspicu
pusly excelled-his discernment, his acuteness MS
impartiaIity his extraordinary power OF broad ana
various appreciation. Add to this intellectual
equipment the mastery Of q clear and sparkling
style and the precious gifts OF wit and good feel-
ing and we have the description OF q literary
Judge Who II not in all respects bhe first In Amer
tea was without q superior in certain lines INC
present volume contains several specimens Oh
kind of writing i'm which he probably had no IT.
val we mean the combination OF the crltlca es
say with the personal sketch. Thus In ms pa
pers on Choate Agassiz, Emerson, Motley and sum-
ner he gives us not only series Of Incompatible
portrsts and keen estimates OF intellectual rank
but the two branches of the inquiry are made TO u,
Iustratc and advance each other; we STUDY the
workings of mans mind by the light OF his char-
meter and follow out his personal traits 10 oheir
expression in his public achievements Inc oeau
tiful paper on Agassiz is one OF the hanpleso o'
Mr. Whipple's productions in this sort lie en-
ioyed of course advantage which does not IaA
TO many critics. for he was on terms OF intimacy
with a long hne-with two full generations-oi
the foremost Of our men of letters. and the anec-
tionate regard in which he was held by SO many
whose conn anionship is in itself an education is
one of the most enviable tributes to his worth
HAIF HOURS WITH THE BEST AMERICAN
AUTHORS. Selected and asrsngea 9y Az, HhA II r.
MORRIS 4 vols. 12m0. pp 3lZ, ol2' DIX oao' de De
llppipcott Co.
Specimens arranged in this manner arc never
satisfactory, either as illustrations OF nafionai
literature or as characteristic examples OF par'lc-
ular authors Thev are not grouped either Nv
subject or by chronology. and even pieces oy 'he
same author are scattered far and wide. The sole
obect of the editor seems to be the preparation OF
perpetual variety for the desultory reader, who
woud not be kept more than thirty miputes
at any one style of amusement. This is
not lofty purpose but something COOL
does come of it (; and may at least ind IN these
well-printei volumes great deal OF exceHent
literature which has either passed prematureiy ou'
of date or Is for some other reason oryon" inc
general reach. That we shall also find quantity
of literature which no stretch Of complaisance can
call the product Of ally fthe best " American
authors is not very serious cause of complaint
Most of 1t has some claim to our consideration.
1t is to be regretted however. that many OF our
best authors are unfairly represented. Mr.: Morris
is but slenderly equipped for the business oi
criticism, and some Of his observations betray
remarkable unfamilisrity with American htera-
ture. He believes that lrvins's fame rests
principally on his series of histories, "Coum ons
aMahomet" and "The Conquest OF Oranaua
that the Sketch Book of Mester Kari" is
comnanion work to the Brsitmann ballads; and
that Enrope produced no writer in tho eighteenth
century of intellect superior to Frankln's